Gas producer



May 18 1926.

V. D. MCDONNELL.

GAS PRODUCER 2 Sheets-Shout 1 'im :1 llll l In Filed Oct. 19, 1922 May18, 1926.

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GAS Pnonucsli Find 00h19. 1922 2 Sheets-Shut 2 Patented May 18, 19726.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VINCENT D. MODONNELL, 0F CHICAGO; iILLINOIS.

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Application led October 19, 1922. Serial No. 585,518.

My invention relates to an improved apparatus for producing acombustible gas4 from Water and carbon adapted for heat or powergeneration. The invention contemplates the provision of an apparatusWhereby a substantially continuous production of gas may be had andwherein a minimum quantity of air is admitted, which is automaticallycontrolled for the purpose of controlling or regulating the tem eraturein the producer so as to produce a iighly combustible gas.

Another object of my invention is to produce an apparatus wherein aregulable quantity of water will be admitted in a minute jet or streamand in such manner as to cause the water to be vaporized to such anextent as to be converted substantially into a dry steam, before it isadmitted into the combustion chamber or fire-pot; my improved methodproviding a greater percentage of oxygen from the Water used andenabling less use of free oxygen from air and therefore providing aproduct o t low nitrogen content but of high hydrogen and othercombustible content.

Another object of my invention is to provide means whereby the amount ofwater may be automatically controlled and its How into the producerregulated or increased when the temperature in the apparatus exceeds apredetermined degree.

A further object of my invention is to provide means whereby thevaporized water will bc admitted iu'a finely divided manner at aplurality of points into the bottom of the fire-pot and immediatelyrbeneath the mass ol" carbonaceous matter in order to compel thevaporized water to percolate through the incandescent zone ofcarbonaceous matter.

The objects and advantages of my invention will he more fullycomprehended from the detailed description of the accompanying drawings,wherein Figure 1 .is a side elevation of my im` proved apparatus with aportion of the Walls or shells broken away and shown in section and theair *and water admitting conduits with the control mechanism omitted.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view with a portion of the fuelmagazine of the apparatus broken away.

`Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of a type of valve employed inthe Water and air-admitting lines orconluits,

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 1--4of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 4.

The apparatus, as disclosed in the drawings, comprises a preferablycylindrical shell or outer housing 10 of suitable dimensions an'dprovided with a to or dome portion 11 which constitutes t efuel-receiving hopper or magazine having a fuel-introducing chute 12adapted to be sealed against the admission of air by a suitable cover13.

The outer shell or housing 10 is provided with an inner shell 14 ofsmaller dimensions to provide a chamber l5 disposed intermediatc of theouter shell` '10 and the inner shell 14 and extending eircumferentiallthereabout; the upper end of the inner she 14 being open, while thelower end is pro vided with a bottom 1G disposed at a distance removedfrom the lower end of the outer shell 10. Mounted within the shell 14and in spaced relation therewith is a third and open ended shell 17 ofless length and width than the inner shell 14 so as to provide thespaced relation between the two shells 17 and '14. This inner shell 17has an inner lining of suitable refractory material as at 18 throughoutthe entire length of the shell to constitute the fire-pot or generatingportion of the producer; the refractory material 18A being supported inany suitable manner, as for example by an annular flange or ring 19secured adjacent to the bottom of the shell 17. The upper end of shellv17 is flanged or provided with a ring 20 whereby the upper end of thechamber, intermediate of shells 17 and 14, is closed.

The shell' 17 on its outer surface is provided With a spirally disposedtrough 21 extending from a point adjacent the upper end of the shell 17to the bottom thereof as shown in Fivure 2. At the lower end of theinner shell l? I provide a chamber-ed ring 22 whereby the inner shell 17is supported and a closure provided for the lower end of the chamber inwhich the spiral trough 21 is 'located; the ring 22 also constitutingsupporting means for the gratehars 23. As shown in Figure 2, the ring 2Qis provided with a plurality of ports or tuyres 24 extendingtherethrough for electm communication between the chambern w `ch trough21 is of the contact points 54, through the circuit induced by thethermo-couple 55 which eX- tends into the chamber in which the spirallywound trough 2l is located.

The water-admitting conduit 3i', iutermediate of the shut-oli4 valve 3Band the point of communication with the chamber in which the spiraltrough ill is located, is also provided with a control valve 43 whosespring controlled lever 4V) is adapted to be attracted by anclectroniagnet ad arranged in circuit with the pyronictcr previously referred to; that is to say the magnet 5G is adapted to be energized whenthe needle 53 moves into Contact with one of the contact points 5l. Thevalve ifi, in the air conduit 3l, is normally closed, while the valve 43in the water line 37 is normally slightly open so as to constantly admita minute, predetermined quantity or stream of water.

In order to compensate for unequal expansion and contraction between therefractory lining 1li and the metallic wall or shell 17 I mount therefractory lining 18 in slight spaced relation with the shell 17 andlill the intervening space with a suitable granular substance 18* whichis not a heat insulator, as for example sand` whereby the heat will beconducted to the shell 1T, in order to prevent the vapor, which passesthrough tuyres 2li, from passing upward between the lining 18 and theshell 1T and mixing with the gas ,at the upper end ol the lire-pot.

In operating the apparatus to carry ont m improved method, thecarbonfuel, `to wit: charcoal or other suitable carbonaceous matter, isintroduced' into the magazine or hopper through the chute or inlet 13and disc urged onto the grate of the tire-pot. The fuel is then ignitedin the lire-pot, while at the same time both valves in the air supplyline are opened to permit a suihcient amount of air to be formed throughconduit 3l, manifold 28, into the respective hollow bars of the gratefrom whence it is discharged by the plurality of minute ports oropenings 2i' inthe different gratebars. This free admission of air iscontinued until the fuel and Walls ot the tire-pot are brought to anincandescent heat, at which time shut-oil valve 38 in the water supplyline is opened to admit Water into conduit 37. The control valve 43 inthe water supply line is normally set to admit a predetermined minutequantity' of water into the conduit 3T in order that a small jet orstream of water will be continuously discharged into the upper end orturn ot' the spiral trough 2l.

lt is apparent that the lower.fii'epot end ol the inner shell orcylinder will he at a greater heat than the upper end, and as a resultthe minute uantity of water flowing slowly downward t irough the spiraltrough, in intimate relation with the inner wall or shell 17, will begradually and progressively subjected toan increasing temperature whichwill cause it to he vaporized and brought to a substantially dry state,namely substan tially convert it into supi-rheated steam, be fore it isadmitted into the bottom of the tire pot beneath the incandescentlyheated carbonar-cous mass; the vapor being evenly dis4 tributedthroughout the bottom of the grate. so that complete gasitication willtake place instantly upon Contact with and during passage through theincandescent carbon.

After initial generation. namely after the mass has been brought to anincandescent temperature, the valve 43 in air line 31 is released so asto close through the action of its spring 49, and combustion maintainedmainly through the oxygen derived from the water, thus providing a gashigh in hydrogen or other combustible content and comparatively free ofa high nitrogen content which would result if air was freely andcontinuously admitted.

By reason of the grate-bariconstruction and method of introducing theair, the carbonaccous mass will be quickly brought up to incandescence,as the air is evenly distributedthroughout the entire base of theirefpot by means of the small ports 27 arranged in the longitudinal orbody portions of the bars.

With the pyrometer control of the air supply and water suppy lines`namely with electro-magnets controlling the two valves 43 and arrangedin circuits established when indicator or needle 53 contacts with eitherl of the terminals or contact points 54, 54, it is possible to maintainsubstantially continuous generation of gas as long as a sufficientsupply of unconsumed carbonaceous material is in the generator. Thethermo-couple 55, arranged in the vapor Generating chamber, is intendtlto cause needle 53 to move into contact with one of the terminals orcontact points 54 when thc temperature in said chamber drops below apredetermined degree and to Contact with the other terminal 54 when thetemperature exceeds a predetermined degree; the needle causing anelectric circuit to be established whereby either eectro-magnet 50 ormagnet 56 becomes energized. For example, if the temperature in thevaporiaing chamber (namely the chamber in which spiral trough 21 islocated) drops below a predetermined degree the thermo-couple 5? willinduce needle 53 to swingr to the left in Figure 2 and thereby.establish a circuit whereby electro-magnet 5G becomes energized so as toattract the end of lever 46, of the control valve 43 in the air supplyline` and cause the valve 43 to he opened to allow air to pass throughconduit 31 and into the fire-pot through the ports in the grate-bars.This admission of a small quantity of air will increase the combustionand bring the temperature up to the desired degree. when the eireuitwill he broken or openel. therelo "i-njj the Spi-in;r if* to elo\e the\al\'e in the airline.

(ln the oher hand. il' ti e temperature in tbe vapm'izing ehamberexeeedsI a predeterV mined degree` needle ."I will be eansed to mere tothal right in Figure 2 and eomplete a eireuit whereh;v eleetroanagnetTIG beeomes energized: therehv :ttraetinLIr the lever 46 of eontrol vareft in the water supply line` with the rtw-ult that. thi. valve will beopened beyond its normal setting. thereby permitting: a greater flow ofwater to enter the vnporizing chamber. lhie` eondition will maintainuntil the temperature drop` bark to the desired degree. when the eireuitwill he broken and the spring til otl the control valve 43 in thewater-suppl)Y lim Il? will move the valve. bark to its normal position(namely slightly open) -o :e: to diminish the admitted water t0 itsnormal llow.

In praetice. I have found` in order to produce :1 suitable eombnstihlegus, that the area of the vaporizing ehamber, de'i mined by the heightot' the tire-pot. and tne grate area should be proportional or of aratio within a eertain'runge; that is to say, the area ot' thevaporizing eharnber should be between six and a half to ten times thearea of the grate. It' the ratio between the total area of theYnporizing eltamber and the area ot' the grate is less than the minimumproportionS above given. the vapor will not be brought to a proper'temperature and :is a result the steam dioeharginlrr into the lire potwill be :xt a temperature whieh soon eools the incandescent eerhon belowthe temperature for producing methane` hydrogen and a carbon monoxide.rOn the other hand. if too great a difference between the arenal inprovided, whereby the vapor caused to have an extreme length of travel.the eat-bon monoxide will be eonverted into au inert gas and improperoperation of the `generatinresults.

The gas produced in the tre-po| rises to the upper end thereof andpas-:es through the ehannels2 3U into ehaniber 13 disposed about theshell 14 whieh eonstitntey one wall of the vaporizing ehamber; the ,ffaa tending to heat the wall or shell 14 and therefore the vaporizinerehaluher. with the result that the temperature ol the out-550mg gas isreduced.

I have shown and dewerihed an apparatus adapted to carry out my methodoll gas produetion` but moditieatiomV may be made without` however,departlner from the epirit of my invention.

That I claim inzw- 1. In a 4as produeer. an aiirtilht generating chamberprovided with a lerate in the, lower end thereot', a elteed watervaporirim*r chamber disposed about the generztingr chamber and to beheated thereby, mean.`- lorated in the vaporizingr Chamber whereby theineominl"r water will he eansed to flow about the wall ot' th'e`generating. ehantber from the upper to the lower end tliereot' aChamber dispowtl beneath the grate oi the generating eliainber. meanswhereby @one munieation between the vaporizin;r chamber and said laf tmentioned eliamber is etfeeted and the steunt vapor delivered to said lat ehanlher in small jets, a gafereeeiving chamber arranged about said\'alt,rn"tiri;`y chamber :ind beneath naid third mentioned chamber so :Hto conve)r the heat ot' t` gas to Said chambers. regulable means forintrodneing water into the upper end of the vaporiziug Chamber, meanswhereby air ma); he et' velved through the gratix into the generatingchamber. and means controlled by the temperature in the vaporiziugchamber when-hy :tir i# admitted when the temperature fat'ls below apredetern'iined degree and nu increased flow of water provided when thetempel-attire exeeedri a predeternlinetl degree.

In :l gas produc-er`r un airtight eenen ating eltamber` a clomid writervaporizing;r eliatnher disposed about the 'entratiner Chamlter from topto bottom and to be heated therebv. .Caid vztporizing ehamher on it.bottom being provided with a plurality ol' tn veres whereby the steantvapor ieonvelved beneath the ,Qrnte of the generatin;r ehainber. :1gas-reeeivine ehamber disposed about and lengthwil ot the vaporixv ingeliantbet' No as to Convey heat thereto and havingF eonunnnieation atitsy upper end with the upper end ol' the generating chatte bei'.automatic regulable water introducing meam` conuuunieatingr with theupper i l of the vaporizi1r\ r eliambrr. regulable ain, ilo-- duringmeans` ettnuuunieating with the la=ttom ot' the generatingA 'haifiber,anu nienns eontrollet'l h v the temperature in the vaporixing ehainheradapted to atleet the waieriutrodueing meute` and the air-introdueingmeans. where-hv an inerezied tlow ot' water admitted into thevaporizinj:- ehaniber when the temperature exeeed` a predeten mineddeggree and air in admitted into the generatingrhamber when thetemperatnre talle below a predetermiited degree,

i). ln a fan produl'er. a `generating chain'- lver provided with a gratein the lower end thereof. a rinsed water vaporiiiing ehaniher, disposedabout the geneintiinr ebuniber from top to lioltinnq liatin y :t totril:it'ta of predetermined proportioiw relative to the area ofthe grate`mean whei ehi: the steam vapor from said vaporiinif eliatnlfernitt'orzoljt' diseharjed in minute pdx l=eneath the gratet agaH-Ieeeiving ehumher liavin;I4 eononuniefrtion arrows the top of theraporlf/,ing rhumller with the upper end otthe generating' ehand er anddi po aed about and throughout the length of the vaporixinu rhamher` andantematie means ctnitrolled h v the tempera- EGO ture in the vaporizingchamber, whereby air is admitted to the bottom of the enel-ating chamberwhen the temperature fa ls below a predetermined degree and an increasedflow of water is admitted to the vaporizing chamber when the temperaturerises above a predetermined degree.

4. In a gas producer, a generating chamber, provided with a grate havinghollow trunnions eommuncatin with the chamber exterior and provided wlthdischar e ports in the bars of the grate, controjla le air admittingmeans communicatingiwith said hollow trunnions, a water vaporizingchamber disposed about the generating chamber, regulable water-conveyingmeans communieating with said vaporizing chamber, means whereby thesteam va or is discharged in minute quantities in t e lower end of thenerating chamber, and means controlled y the temperature in thevaporizing chamber whereby air is permitted to flow through theair-admitting means when said temperature falls below a predetermineddegree and an increased l'low of Water through the water-conveying meanspermitted when said temperature 'exceeds a predetermined degree.

5. In a gas producer of the character; described, a generating chamberprovided with a grate in the lower end thereof, the'bars of the gratebeing provided with air passages, regulable means whereby air may beadmitted to said passa s, a water va orizing chamber disposed a ut saidgenetiiiting chamber and communicating with tl* latter at the bottomthereof, means whereby a regulable quantity of water is admitted to saidvaporizing chamber, a gas-receiving chamber disposed about thevaporizing chamber and communicating with than upper end of thegenerating chamber and terminating at the bottom in a precipitatingchamber, and gas outlet means dis dsed centrally within saidprecipitating c amber.

6. In a gas producer of the character described, a generating chamberrovided with a. grate in the bottom thereo a water vaporizing chamberdisposed about the generating e amber from top to bottom,iw regulablemeans wherebyY a continuous dow of water in a minute stream or jet isddmitted into the upper end of the vaporizing cham= ber, means wherebythe steam vapor from said vaporizing chamber is discharged in aplurality of small jets into the bottom of the generating chamber,automatically controlled means whereby air may be intermittentlyadmitted to the bottom of the generating chamber, a gas-receivingchamber disposed about the vaporizing chamber and beneath the generatingchamber, said chamber communicating at its to with the upper end of thegenerating cham er and termlnatin at the bottom in a precipitatingportion, an gas outlets means extending centrally `from the preciitating portion of said gasreceiv in cham er.

In a gas producer, a water vaporizin chamber, a generating chamberprovide with a rate in the lower end thereof, the bars of t e gratehaving air passa extending lengthwise thereof and lateral dis oseddischarge orts, theends of the rs ing extended t irough the walls of theerating chamber, a manifold in which e ends of the bars are rotatablysecured, an air line connected with said manifold, and automatic meanscontrolled by' the tem rature within the vaporizin chamber o theproducer whereby the a miion of air to said manifold is controlled.

8. In a producer, a generating chamber provi ed with a grate in thelower end thereof, the bars of the grate havin air assagcsextendinglengthwise thereo and aterally disposed discharge ports, theends of the bars being extended through the walls of the eneratingchamber, a manifold in which t e ends of the rs are. rotatably secured,an air line-conn d with said manifold, a water vaporiz'ing chamberdisposed about the generating chamber and extending from top to bottom,said vaporizing chamber communicating with the enerat'- ing chamberthrough a plurality o spaced ports opening beneath the grate, a spiraltrough 1n the vaporizing chamber disposed about the wall of thegenerating chamber, means whereby a minute quantity of water is admittedto said trough, a gas-receiving chamber disposed about the vaporizinchamber, and automatic means controll by the temperature in thevaporjzin chamber whereby air is admitted to sai manifold when thetemperature in the Vaporizing chamber falls below a predetermined degreeand an increased uantity of water is admitted into the troug of theVaporizing chamber when the temperature of said chamber exceedsaredetermined de ree.

VINCET D. MCDON LL.

